EAST CHESHIRE RAMBLERS

THE Derbyshire landscape is much influenced by traces of its industrial past, particularly by quarrying and mining over many centuries.

During a recent nine-mile walk, 17 East Cheshire Ramblers saw evidence of lead mining, in the form of rake veins.

These look like wide ditches, but each records where a vein of lead several feet or even yards wide was mined.

The rake veins ran across the countryside, often for miles.

Led by Brian Griffiths, we set off from Peak Forest village in poor visibility due to low mist.

After a short distance along the road, we turned left and, with Eldon Hill to our left, climbed steadily as we crossed Watts Plantation – moorland dotted with disused mine shafts. Soon it was time for a refreshment break.

We sheltered from the strong wind in a grassy hollow, once the site of a quarry, before continuing northward on our ascent towards Mam Nick.

There, after crossing the road and turning west, our route took us along the contour to Lords Seat, then gradually downhill along Rushup Edge.

The recent heavy rains had left the stony path more like a stream, so it was as well that we were wearing stout boots.

Lunch was enjoyed taking advantage of an outcrop of rocks by a wall.

By this time, the morning’s wintery showers had given way to cloud with occasional sunny spells, though it was still windy.

Our afternoon route turned southwards and gradually downhill through Stonyford, with occasional steeper sections on the descent to Rushup Farm.

In woodland, shortly after passing through Sparrowpit, we passed a couple of rake veins and learned more about lead mining from our walk leader.

Soon we were back at our cars agreeing it had been a very enjoyable and interesting walk.

For more details of East Cheshire Ramblers’ programme of weekend and midweek walks, go to ramblerseastcheshire.